Draw leaf extension attachment for tables



Dec. 4, 1951 J. WELLER 2,577,724

DRAW LEAF EXTENSION ATTACHMENT FOR TABLES Filed Feb. 21, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I nvenlor w ww Alloy-nay Dec. 4, 1951 J. WELLER DRAW LEAF EXTENSION ATTACHMENT FOR TABLES Filed Feb. 21, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. WELLER I 'l I I IHH U l P H Hflh l l l l l l l Ha l h I ll ll I |II|||| l |l||l|l Ill 1 l l I Illllll llllllllll Dec. 4, 1951 DRAW LEAF EXTENSION ATTACHMENT FOR TABLES Filed Feb. 21, 1950 Patented Dec. 4, 1951 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE DRAW-LEAF EXTENSION ATTACHMENT FOR: TABLES This invehtion relates to tables, desks and like spof that kind having a top part beneathis; disposed a draw-leaf or the like mount or attached to, a slide for movement therewith from a position under the said top to ex ende 29 112 99 be o d n 51%? .Q mela i he ea' d' dra -l af e fi e llvn Oth rfiu lefie th gsli r s gyl nk A h s cap" 1e, its extended positio'ri', o f a f A "wering' movementrelatively to the slide, so it ay ovei to, or out of, a; position level the upper si jrf'ac'e of the table, desk or like web we 1 1 $99 ifi scl je 9f e We? 2%. S

the; arrangements of the above kind difil. wer ex e n ed n rr n sp in an the links or parts coupling the extension leaf t'gi th -sl dleto' ensure that the leaf is raised a115, tornat -cally", asso'on' as it isclear of the top, ihto the desired position, so that it lies 1' eve1 or flush with-the upper surface of the said top. Obj j'ee bfthe present invention isto memes-" mm efijective and positive means for causing ele'Va-i tion'or'rai sing' movement of the leaf 'wh' it is drawn front-beneath thetdp, toi tlier said extende'dleafto a position where V surfae'e will be flush with the upper surface of the" top; and qnei o f its ends closelyl posit c'e'nt 'to an enof ofthe-top. A further 0 'e' posiitiohs in which thev'c'an be readily by the sprin'g. T- e roll or ram engagl g'part may be attached w the draw-leaf"- by' e ph'{ depending bria'icket 'whie swings=loack to all'o the rollefiortramp-engg gpart-Wifii'hg'o I ramp as the draw leafis pushed hack" beneath thetopor the article) the bracket heirig' prevehteclfrom swinging in the opposite direction, heyend 'a pretleterminecl position, by a stopmay: he cpnnected -at eeeneme By a" pair l-inks -t'o a-sl'-ide'-'bar movable" over" af xe provide-adjusting fnearis to ensur the rop r ,r strati'on of the draw-leaf wi-tlrthe-tep of" 2, and slide bar for raising the leaf, and a pair of ramps may he provided one at each side, each adapted to be engagedby a roller on a depending pivoted bracket carried by the, draw-l'eaf.

Figure l of the accompanying drawingsfiepresents a perspective View of a Unit fitting for attachment to, and for forming part of, a 'tableor' cleskstructure and 'cQIX'i'PITiZ 1 219 te 'e riee; d" leaf disposed, beneath the letter, the" draw bei wanted to he] pesit ely" r'aisd'iip', w withdrawn, in aceb'rdahee withgtjhe present invention.

Figure 2 shows the unit with the dram;-lea); Withdrawn. V Figure 3 represents" a section thriqugh the unit upon a larger scale; with the draw-leaf in its pushed-in position. i h

Figure 4 is a cro's'sesfeetion on the l ne, IV I Figure 3.

Figur 5. is, a sectional view; showing the drawleaf drawn out int a, position for iisfe.

Figure 6 represents a longitudinal section, upon a larger scale, through adjacent 'p'artfs er the top portion and draw-leaf, just befqref the latter has move'ciironi' beneath the top", sho'wi g.

one of the rollers; just before it engages the; ramp; for positively lifting the draw-mar.

Figure 7 shows an alternative construction.

Referring toFigur'es 1 to 6 of the drawings, the mp e ev' 'c' @fisis't 1 f 'fii't t c n' a pris'ihg a top; I disposed above, an'd'fixed to, a box-like body part or casing 2, the latter being adapted tobe se uree to an under'support form? ing part o a ab O d sk oi h t the devi e, forms a self-eo'ntaihed part Of the latter. The hotly riart' or casing; consists" of a froiitmeniber 3 of an inverted ehannel shape connected to" sides 4,. which are joihed' at their rem-ends by a cross me ber 5, the; boxrpart; thus formed). being: divide'gif by fixed vertical partitions" e, x-i din tr m1 mn i i01bik and vid fie side. e m a im nis'i $3 qf i 1?. wi hin wh h -S'prov de w h tw ib sh igs iml feic v fie fixing s'crews' or belts; s'o' that the devi e "e Be attaeh'egi to the desk efr'ame; The, deviide m hei d" v Sheet t the we I, Wh'ch mayhe'sft h'gthened i 'pon its underside ei e "It o h a te The frem meme: 1 of, ess de th. n h sid s we beck t 6 structure; so that there is left above" the main 3 a: slot, extend ihg troih, sige to' s'id'e, for r e1v a draw-leaf If. Theglga'tterjfvvhieh nijaf y lge like walls, with inturned lower edges, and with front and rear walls I3 and I4 respectively, likewise having inturned lower edges, whilst the said draw-leaf is strengthened upon its underside by channels I5 (Figure 4) extending from the front to the rear, one near each side above the partitions 6. The draw-leaf II,' thus constructed is slidably mounted beneath the top I upon a pair of channel-sectioned slides or runners I6, disposed one at each side, and extending from the front to the rear, the said slides or runners being set on edge with the channels presented towards one another, and each engaging a guide bar II fixed, such as by bolts It, to the partition 6 at the respective side of the device. The draw-leaf II is connected to each runner It by a pair of parallel-motion links I9 and 20, pivotally connected to the runner I6 at their lower ends. upper end of the one link It is pivoted to a bracket I2 on the underside of the draw-leaf, whilst the upper end of the other link 26 is pivoted to an extension arm 2| fixed to the underside of the draw-leaf and extending rearwardly therefrom, as shown. The two slides or runners I6 are joined together at their rear ends by a cross-bar 22, and at their forward ends by a cross-bar 23, thereby forming a rigid rectangular slidablev frame. Owing to the arrangement of the channelled slides or runners IS the oiled or greased surfaces of the latter are presented inwards and are not likely to come into contact with the clothes of the user.

Fixed upon the front cross-bar 23 connecting together the forward ends of the runners is a pair of upstanding brackets 24 forming anchorages for the rear ends of a pair of coiled exten sion springs 25, each spring being attached at itsforward end to a bracket 38 on the underside of the draw-leaf II. When the latter is not required for use it is housed wholly beneath the top I, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the links I9 and assuming the positions indicated and the spring 25 being extended. When the leaf I I is withdrawn from beneath the topit is caused, when released, to move upwards the links I9 and 28 moving angularly about their lower ends. To initiate this upward movement and to ensure that the draw-leaf Ii shall always move automatically into a position at which it is level with the table top means are provided for positively raising up the draw-leaf as it is vwith-.

drawn from beneath the top I. For this purpose, there is formed out of the front member 3 of the casing 2 a pair of ramps 26 disposed one at each side of the structure and formed conveniently by cutting the top and side walls of the member 3 and bending down the cut-out part to the required shape, the lower ends of the ramps 26 being fixed, such as by spot-welding, to the bottoms of the compartments I at the two sides. Carried by the rear end of the extension arm 2| at each side of the draw-leaf II is a bracket'Z'l andpivoted between the side of the latter and the side of the arm 2I is a depending member 28 carrying a roller 29 and provided with a pivot 30. This roller-carrying member 28 is free to swing angularly forwards about the pivot 30 from its normal vertical position shown by full lines in the drawings, into, for example, the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6. The rollercarrying member 28 is positively prevented from moving angularly in a rearward direction, beyond its vertical position, by a suitable stop, such, for example, as by the stop 3I, Figure 6.

As the draw-leaf II is slid out, with the run- The ners I5, from beneath the top I, the rollers 29 carried by the depending members 28 engage against the ramps 26, and, riding up the latter, positively lift up the rear end of the draw-leaf II just as the same is leaving the top I, so that it is caused to rise up nearly level with the said top. This lifting action causes, at the same time, angular movements of the links I9 and 20 from their lowered positions shown in Figure 1, and a positive upward movement of the whole draw-leaf is thereby effected. The springs 25 assist in this raising action, the initial lifting action of the ramps bringing the draw-leaf under the effective control of the said springs. Immediately the draw-leaf II is released the latter is moved back automatically so that its rear edge I4 is caused to abut closely against the forward edge of the top I, as shown in the drawings. Not only do the ramps effect a positive raising of the draw-leaf, but by causing an initial angular movement of the links I9 and 20 the latter are prevented from sticking in their turned-down'positions shown in Figure 3, as they might possibly do if the springs 25 alone were relied upon for the lifting action. The leaf I I may be drawn out from beneath the top I by a finger grip pull on its forward edge.

The rear Wall I4 of the draw-leaf may carry rubber or other pads or buffers, such as 32, and in order. to limit the forward movement of the runners or slides I6 which carry the draw-leaf stops, formed by a pair of bolts 33, may be provided. These bolts 33 are carried horizontally by depending brackets 35 on the slide frame and the heads of the bolts are adapted to contact with rubber or other buffers 35 on the rear wall of the front member 3 of the casing 2 when the slides or runners I6 are fully withdrawn. The bolts 33, constituting the stops are adjustable and may be locked in their adjusted positions by nuts 36. When the draw-leaf II is in its raised position accurate register between the upper surfaces of the table top and draw-leaf may be brought about by rotational adjustment of the stops 35. The effect of such adjustment is then to vary the inclination of the links I9 and 20, and so vary, within small limits, the height of the upper surface of the leaf.

When the draw-leaf II is not required it may be moved forwards to cause the links I9 and 20 to assume the substantially horizontal positions shown in Figure 3, and the leaf, with the slides or runners I6, may then be pushed back beneath the top I. During this rearward movement the rollers 29 wipe over the ramps 26, the parts 28 by which they are carried moving angularly about their pivots, and finally assuming by gravity the vertical positions illustrated. The rear crossbar 22 of the slide frame may carry buffers 31 which engage the rear wall 5 of the casing when the draw-leaf is pushed fully back beneath the top I.

Not only is a positive lifting action of the drawleaf obtained, by the present invention, but perfect register of the upper surfaces of the table or like top and the draw-leaf may be obtained when the latter is extended, whilst the leaf may be readily and quickly withdrawn by one hand, the raising of the draw-leaf being entirely automatic.

If desired, a positive lifting action of the drawleaf may be obtained by reversing the arrangement, as indicated, for example, in Figure '7. Re-.

ferring to this figure an inverted ramp or inclined part 38 is provided at each side of the draw-leaf I I on the extension arm 2! carried by the respective side of the latter, the said inverted ramp or:

inclined part 38 being adapted to co-operate with a roller 29 on an upstanding part 39 pivoted at 40 to the fixed part 3, the front vertical wall of which forms a stop, the part 39 being normally maintained against the said wall by a spring 4|. As the draw-leaf II is being withdrawn, and just as it leaves the top I, the inverted ramp or inclined part 38 strikes the roller 29 and is lifted up, thereby positively raising the draw-leaf ll. When the draw-leaf H is moved back beneath the top I the lower corner of the part 38 strikes the roller 29 andmoves the member 39 back against its spring 4!, thereby wiping over the roller.

I claim:

1. A table-top, a slide movable beneath the latter, a draw-leaf,parallel motion links connecting the draw-leaf to the slide, so that it may be moved with the slide beneath the top or drawn out from beneath the same, a spring tending to lift the draw-leaf when withdrawn, a fixed ramp, a depending pivoted part carried by the drawleaf, a stop for preventing angular movement of the pivoted part in a rearward direction, the said pivoted part, held against angular movement by the stop, engaging, and riding up the ramp as the draw-leaf is withdrawn so that the draw-leaf is positively raised as it passes from beneath the table top, the pivoted part moving angularly and wiping over the ramp when the draw-leaf is moved back beneath the top.

2. A table-top, a slide movable beneath the latter, a draw-leaf, parallel-motion links connecting the draw-leaf to the slide, so that it may be moved with the slide beneath the top or drawn out from beneath the same, a spring tending to lift the draw-leaf when Withdrawn, a fixed ramp, a depending pivoted part carried by the drawleaf, a roller on the pivoted part, a stop for preventing angular movement of the pivoted part in a rearward direction, the roller on said pivoted part, with the latter held against angular movement by the stop, engaging, and riding up the ramp as the draw-leaf is withdrawn so that the draw-leaf is positively raised as it passes from beneath the table top, the pivoted part moving angularly and the roller wiping over the ramp when the draw-leaf is moved back beneath the top. 7

3. A table-top, a slide movable beneath the latter, a draw-leaf, parallel-motion links connecting the draw-leaf to the slide, so that it may be moved, with the slide, to lie beneath the top or drawn out, with the slide, from beneath the top, a spring tending to lift the draw-leaf when the latter is withdrawn, means for positively raising the draw-leaf when it has'been moved clear of the top, the spring serving to hold an edge of the raised drawn-out draw-leaf against an edge of the top, means for varying the extent which the slide may be withdrawn in order to vary the inclination of the links when the edges of the draw-leaf and top are in engagement, in order to bring the upper surfaces of the top and drawramp when the draw-leaf is moved back beneath leaf into register.

4. A table-top, a slide movable beneath the latter, a draw-leaf, parallel-motion links connecting the draw-leaf to the slide, so that-@it may be moved, with the slide, to lie beneath the top or drawn out, with the slide, from beneath the top, a spring tending to lift the draw-leaf when the latter is withdrawn, cam means for positively 'raising the draw-leaf when it has been moved "clear of the top, the spring serving to hold an ing the draw-leaf to the slide so that the draw- 7 leaf may be moved with the slide to a position beneath the top or drawn out from beneath the same, a ramp, a pivoted part, a stop for preventing angular movement of the pivoted part in one direction, the said pivoted part, held against angular movement by the stop, engaging and moving over the ramp as the draw-leaf is withdrawn, so that the draw-leaf is positively raised as it passes from beneath the table top, the pivoted part moving angularly and wiping against the the top.

7 JACK WELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 775,377 Mitchell Nov. 22, 1904 1,916,648 Walter July 4, 1933 1,938,893 Cooper Dec. 12, 1933 1,952,621 Bromley Mar. 27, 1934 2,084,786 Yow June 22, 1937 2,229,320 Blazano et al Jan. 21,-1941 2,263,816 Nonnast Nov. 25, 1941 2,306,031 Anderson Dec. 22, 1942 2,366,499 Tosti Jan. 2, 1945 

